Batting averages, ERA, home runs, RBIs, runs scored — none of those numbers are as important to Stephen Wrenn as the end result of each game.

Sure, he may be a little concerned if his batting average was below .200, but if the senior’s managing to do enough to help his team win, he wouldn’t complain.

“He’s very mature for his age, and he puts his teammates before himself,” Walton coach Shane Amos said.

Not only is Wrenn’s batting average well beyond .200, but he’s on a Walton team that has potential to do great things.

He was the lone freshman three years ago, when the Raiders struggled to a 10-16 record, but the team made strides the next year with a talented class of sophomores to grow around. By the time Wrenn was a junior, Walton was back in the state tournament.

Now that he’s a senior, the sky is the limit for the outfielder for Wrenn and the Raiders.

At 9-3 going into Region 5AAAAA play, Walton has shown it can both hit and pitch, and the Georgia-bound Wrenn is doing both efficiently.

“Everyone is pulling in the same direction. Everyone is has same goals in mind. We hold each other accountable, big time,” he said. “There is no reason why this isn’t the year (to win a state title) as long as we play to our abilities. If we stay focused and not get caught up in off-the-field stuff, this will be a great year to get it done.”

As Walton’s leadoff hitter, Wrenn can read pitchers and catchers really well once he reaches first. He already has a county-best 15 stolen bases on the year.

Wrenn is also hitting .500 on the season with two home runs and is in the Raiders’ starting pitching rotation, but when he’s in a Georgia uniform next year, he will most likely stick with just hitting, stealing bases and playing the outfield.

Wrenn’s only pitching to give Walton more depth on the mound.

“There are some days where he can throw 90 or 95 (mph), but he won’t be pitching in college,” Amos said. “He does it because the team needs him to do it. It’s whatever the team needs him to do to win. It’s all about the team.”

Having put on 20 pounds of muscle during the offseason, Wrenn’s bat came to life early in the year.

He had three RBIs in Walton’s 13-5 win over Alpharetta, and against Pope, Wrenn belted a grand slam to help pave the way to a 15-4 win. He also hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning against Kell to break the game open for an 8-2 win.

Though Wrenn’s numbers have been a little quieter in March, he went 2-for-2 with an RBI last Saturday to lead Walton past North Gwinnett.

With most Region 5AAAAAA teams having strong pitching staffs, Wrenn said one of the bigger keys to the Raiders’ success is hitting more aggressively, like they did at the beginning of the season.

“We’ve faced good pitching all year,” Wrenn said. “We’ve been getting hits. We haven’t been getting as many timely hits, but that’s an easy fix.”

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